Defeat at the hands of Argentina’s Marie Garrone (11-9, 15-13, 7-11, 11-9) had been the shock result in the initial stage of proceedings; in the main draw, Anna-Carin Ahlquist set the record straight in no uncertain terms. Three matches required, three straight games wins.

After accounting for Japan’s Yukimi Chada, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-5, 11-6) and Mexico’s Edith Sigala, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-6, 11-2), she avenged the defeat of the previous day; she beat Marie Garrone (11-8, 11-3, 16-14) to secure the title.

Hard fought success

Success for Anna-Carin Ahlquist, it was the same in women’s singles class 6-10 for Kelly Van Zon of the Netherlands, the top seed but in a rather different manner.

At the semi-final stage she was stretched to the limit by Mirjana Lucic, the no.2 seed (11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 8-11, 12-10), before in the final overcoming Romania’s Ioana-Monica Tepelea in an equally close encounter (13-11, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8).

Disappointment for Ioana-Monica Tepelea but an outcome that was arguably better than expected. Not seeded, it was the only defeat she suffered; in the group stage she had beaten Mirjana Lucic (11-6, 11-7, 11-9), to reserve her place in the main draw where she accounted for compatriot Gabriela Constantin (11-3, 11-4, 11-4) to reserve her place in the final.

Steven Roman excels

A fine effort from Ioana-Monica Tepelea, it was the same from the host nation’s Steven Roman on a day when the favourites prevailed; the only exception being in men’s singles class 5 when at the final hurdle Japan’s Kentaro Doi, the no.2 seed, overcame Argentina’s Elias Romero, the top seed (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5).

Notably in men’s singles class 8, not seeded, Steven Roman reached the final, losing to the leading name on duty, Sweden’s Linus Karlsson (4-11, 14-12, 15-13, 11-9).

Earlier, at the quarter-final stage he had beaten Japan’s Arufuahirokazu Tateishi (13-11, 11-6, 11-5), before in the penultimate round causing the biggest upset of the day. He ousted Slovakia’s Richard Csejtey, the no.2 seed (12-10, 6-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6).

Top seeds succeed

Gold for Linus Karlsson, gold for the top seed; it was the same scenario in the all remaining men’s singles events.

Colleague, Carl Ohgren (class 3) enjoyed success, as did Slovakia’s Peter Mihalik (class 4) and Miroslav Jambor (class 6-7). Likewise, Spain’s José Manuel Reyes (class 10) claimed the top prize, a scenario that also applied to Japan’s Haruna Abe. Furthermore there was success for Chile’s Luis Bustamente (class 1-2), a player with a liking for San José; he won the same title last year.

Individual events completed, attention now turns to the team competition, play in Costa Rica concludes on Saturday 14th December.

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